I walked into the Belmont Pharmacy today, supposedly for no useful purpose. Actually I figure saying hi is quite useful.
Suzanne greeted me and we blabbed a bit. About what I can’t remember. But I got really excited about something. In a fit of verticality, I threw my arms into the air. Unbenounced to me (Wow. I don’t know how to spell that word. Excuse me for a minute while I take a SpellCheck break.) … … Now, where was I? Oh yeah … Ouch. Apparently the word doesn’t exist. All I got back was “undenounced”. I’m pretty sure that’s not the same. Okay, let’s try Google … … Ah hah! Unbenownst → “without the knowledge of”.
I realize that was a lot of further ado, so let’s cut to the chase. My right thumb smashed into a plastic sign hanging from the ceiling. My soul yelped and my thumb gushed red. Darn blood thinners. They’ll get you every time. Quick like a bunny, Suzanne passed me a paper towel. I love it that Bounty is the quicker picker-upper but I guess I needed three-ply.
Suzanne didn’t have any Bandaids except for those nestled in boxes for sale. I didn’t want her to break open a package so I headed to the Diner, grasping said digit. Chrystal saw my scarlet plight and got me a couple of Elastoplasts (I’m an equal opportunity adhesive bandage guy). Being a righthanded dude, I couldn’t get the paper off so I approached a table of local women and Sue did the deed. Off to the washroom and soon I was well covered. I decided not to go with the flow.
That’s enough dramatics, Bruce. We’re not exactly talking heart surgery here.
Much of the rest of my day was humbling. I was a whiz at peeing but how does a thumb deprived human get his pants done up again? Then I was trying on winter boots at Mountain Equipment Co-Op. I couldn’t shove my insoles down deep but Janique came to the rescue. She just about had to do up my laces but I managed a loose approximation of the task.
You know, the thumb is an awfully valuable tool out there in the world, not that I was aware of the fact before today. I was fumbling, again and again.
Somewhere along the way, in a quiet moment of digital repose, a thought crossed my frontal lobe:
What did you learn today, Bruce?
Do you avoid all exultations in the spirit of painfree thumb wholeness?
Or do you throw yourself into the air whenever a deeper spirit moves you?
I vote for the jump-up